Yes..the Lish-Young is a young woman who is blithe and attractive. The story is that the madrigal musician met her along the road...and she asked him to follow her on her journey. Only God knows how far and to where. But they did get romatically involved. She also paid for the trip and the party.

She had money....

We don't know for how long they travelled....but we do know the last lyric and that he indeed missed her.

"Well the reason that we parted..I now should let you hear,
She started off for Germany right early the next year...
But me being unwilling-for to cross the raging sea,
here's a health unto my bonnie lass wherever she may be"

by that toast he was obviously drunk....lol
and he sounded like he 'bragged' about the encounter to his friends in the pub.

this sounds like traditional songs from England and Ireland..I think the traditonals get mixed up. All were songs by madrigal musicians and roving players many, many, many centuries ago. Some from England and some from Ireland. If anyone can definativly tell me where they are from then i'm game

anyone want to interpret John Barlycorn Must Die???


Frank the musicologist from Colorado